Information processing device

• US 6,575,618 B1
• Filed: 07/19/1999
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kurihara, Hajime, Inoue, Shigeki, Uzawa, Yoshito, Hayakawa, Motomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/341,902
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 368/70, 368/185-187, 368/69, 368/294-296, 368/319-321, 368/250, 368/223, 368/295, 368/11, 368/47, 250/231.13, 250/231.14, 250/231.18, 250/231.17, 250/559.29, 250/338.1, 341/13, 341/137
• US Class Current: 368/295
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2451 Incremental encoders G01D5/2454 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/283 on rotatable rings, i.e. bezel for graduations on the bezels G04B19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces

Abstract

An information processing device to which data can be input by the use of a rotary bezel. A pulse-count detection sensor unit 32 and a rotational-direction detection sensor unit 33 read an optical pattern which is formed on the rotary bezel to generate a series of pulse signals. The pulse-count detection sensor unit 32 and the rotational-direction detection sensor unit 33 are arranged such that a phase difference occurs between the signals of the sensor unit 32 and the signals of the sensor unit 33, so that it is possible to detect the rotational direction of the rotary bezel. A data-signal generating element 81 generates a data signal on the basis of the detected rotational angle and the pulse count generated by the pulse-count detection sensor unit 32.

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising:

a support body;

a rotary body supported on the support body for rotation around a circumference of the support body by manual operation of a user;

a detection sensor mechanism provided on the support body for detecting a rotational angle and a rotational direction of the rotary body around the circumference of the support body;

signal generating means, responsive to the rotational angle and the rotational direction detected by the detection sensor mechanism, for generating an output signal;

a display device for displaying information corresponding to the output signal generated by the signal generating means; and

an optical pattern formed on a surface of the rotary body and arranged at a position that opposes the detection sensor mechanism, the detection sensor mechanism comprising a light emitting means for irradiating a detection light toward the optical pattern, and a light receiving means for detecting a reflected light from the optical pattern, and the detection sensor mechanism detecting the rotational angle and the rotational direction of the rotary body in response to light detected by the light receiving means.

2. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the optical pattern includes absorption areas and reflection areas, the absorption areas absorbing most of the detection light from the light emitting means, the reflection areas reflecting most of the detection light from the light emitting means, the absorption areas and reflection areas being arranged alternately in a circle coaxial with the rotary body at regular angular intervals of 360/n degrees where n is an even number, the detection sensor mechanism comprising two detection sensors arranged at two respective locations that oppose the optical pattern, the detection sensors being arranged such that a line connecting one of the detection sensors with a center of rotation of the rotary body and a line connecting the other of the detection sensors with the center of rotation of the rotary body cooperate to form an angle which is different from 360k/n degrees where k is an integer from zero to n−

1.

3. An information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a reference-position detection mechanism for detecting if the rotary body is rotated to a reference position on the support body, the detection sensor mechanism being responsive to the reference-position detection mechanism detecting that the rotary body is rotated to the reference position for thereafter detecting the rotation angle and rotation direction of the rotary body.

4. An information processing device according to claim 3, comprising a plurality of symbols indicated on the rotary body, a pointer that points to at least one of the symbols on the rotary body, the pointer formed on the support body, and the signal generating means generating a signal corresponding to the symbol pointed to by the pointer.

5. An information processing device according to claim 1, comprising a continuous projected ridge formed on the rotary body along a circle coaxial with the rotary body, a circular groove formed in the support body and the projected ridge being fitted in the circular groove, and the detection sensor mechanism being arranged inside the circular groove in the support body.

6. An information processing device according to claim 1, comprising a closed space formed in the support body, and the detection sensor mechanism being arranged in the closed space.

7. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the rotary body comprises a rotary bezel with a circular ring shape;

the support body is formed as a wristwatch type and includes a case body and a band that winds around a wrist of the user;

a closed space formed in the case body and in which the detection sensor mechanism is arranged; and

a transparent member arranged between the detection sensor mechanism and the rotary body.

8. An information processing device comprising:

a support body;

a rotary body supported on the support body for rotation around a circumference of the support body by manual operation of a user;

a detection sensor mechanism provided on the support body that detects a rotational angle and a rotational direction of the rotary body around the circumference of the support body;

a signal generator, responsive to the rotational angle and the rotational direction detected by the detection sensor mechanism, for generating an output signal;

a display device for displaying information corresponding to the output signal generated by the signal generator; and

an optical pattern formed on a surface of the rotary body and arranged at a position that opposes the detection sensor mechanism, the detection sensor mechanism comprising a light emitter that irradiates a detection light toward the optical pattern, and a light receiver that detects a reflected light from the optical pattern, and the detection sensor mechanism detecting the rotational angle and the rotational direction of the rotary body in response to light detected by the light receiver.

9. An information processing device according to claim 8, wherein the optical pattern includes absorption areas and reflection areas, the absorption areas absorbing most of the detection light from the light emitter, the reflection areas reflecting most of the detection light from the light emitter, the absorption areas and reflection areas being arranged alternately in a circle coaxial with the rotary body at regular angular intervals of 360/n degrees where n is an even number, the detection sensor mechanism comprising two detection sensors arranged at two respective locations that oppose the optical pattern, the detection sensors being arranged such that a line connecting one of the detection sensors with a center of rotation of the rotary body and a line connecting the other of the detection sensors with the center of rotation of the rotary body cooperate to form an angle which is different from 360k/n degrees where k is an integer from zero to n−

1.

10. An information processing device according to claim 8, further comprising a reference-position detection mechanism for detecting if the rotary body is rotated to a reference position on the support body, the detection sensor mechanism being responsive to the reference-position detection mechanism detecting that the rotary body is rotated to the reference position for thereafter detecting the rotation angle and rotation direction of the rotary body.

11. An information processing device according to claim 10, comprising a plurality of symbols indicated on the rotary body, a pointer that points to at least one of the symbols on the rotary body, the pointer formed on the support body, and the signal generator generating a signal corresponding to the symbol pointed to by the pointer.

12. An information processing device according to claim 8, comprising a continuous projected ridge formed on the rotary body along a circle coaxial with the rotary body, a circular groove formed in the support body and the projected ridge being fitted in the circular groove, and the detection sensor mechanism being arranged inside the circular groove in the support body.

13. An information processing device according to claim 8, comprising a closed space formed in the support body, and the detection sensor mechanism being arranged in the closed space.

14. An information processing device according to claim 8, wherein the rotary body comprises a rotary bezel with a circular ring shape;

the support body is formed as a wristwatch type and includes a case body and a band that winds around a wrist of the user;

a closed space formed in the case body and in which the detection sensor mechanism is arranged; and

a transparent member